We hear time and time again how hard it is to achieve weight loss as we age, and I’m talking about even those of us in our 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Our metabolisms have slowed down and we start to lose muscle mass, becoming less anabolic (think “reduced energy burning”). The weight gain accumulates around the mid-section and no matter what diet or exercise plan you adhere to, you can’t lose a pound. Even if you were to eat one meal a day, your weight stays the same. Many patients just want to throw in the towel and give up!
That’s where GLP-1 receptor agonists come in, and they work. These medications quiet the food noise, eliminate cravings, and help your body feel full on less. Best of all, we offer semaglutide and tirzepatide at around a quarter of the pharmacy price, because effective care shouldn’t cost $1,000 a month.
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) work by binding to the GLP-1 receptor, increasing insulin secretion, decreasing glucagon secretion (stored glucose), and delaying gastric emptying. The result is that you stay full longer, your appetite decreases, and the cravings, the chips, the crackers, the late-night snacking, simply go away. If you’ve ever struggled with emotional eating or “food noise,” this medication stops that mental struggle. You’ll find yourself walking away from the dinner table after eating half your plate, and your body will naturally respond by lowering circulating glucose to healthy levels while the weight seems to disappear without any more struggle.
GLP-1-assisted weight loss isn’t meant to be a stand-alone treatment, however. If combined with a commitment to cardiovascular exercise, getting your heart rate up to 150 to 160 beats per minute for 20 or more minutes at least 3 days per week, you can turn that snail-paced metabolism into a metabolic calorie-burning machine. That is the point: getting your metabolism back to where it was when you were in your 20s and could eat anything without gaining weight. At IFM Bend, we also offer these medications at around a quarter of the pharmacy price, because results this real shouldn’t cost $1,000 a month.
After your initial consultation, you’ll order your first vial and start a weekly at-home injection. Don’t worry, the needles are SUPER small. Not into injections? We also offer daily sublingual semaglutide. From there, we check in monthly to track your progress and troubleshoot side effects, with ongoing support every two months until you hit your goal. Most patients are on the medication 6 to 12 months, then we taper slowly to let your recharged metabolism take over. Many choose to stay on a low monthly dose, what you may have heard called “micro-dosing,” to keep the benefits going long-term.
The most common side effects of GLP-1 peptides are heartburn, nausea, stomach upset, constipation and diarrhea. These tend to be most noticeable in the early weeks as your body adjusts to the medication and typically improve as we find the right dose for you. Rapid weight loss can also lead to temporary hair loss, which resolves on its own as your body stabilizes. Whether you already struggle with any of these or they come up along the way, we will come up with a plan to mitigate them so the only effect you see is a lower number on the scale.
The benefits of GLP-1 therapy go far beyond weight loss. Patients regularly report improvements in areas they didn’t even expect.
GLP-1 agonists are shown to decrease alcohol cravings, making it easier to cut back without the mental struggle.
These medications reduce inflammation throughout the body, which has a ripple effect on how you feel day-to-day.
Patients regularly come in reporting resolution of joint pain they had long accepted as just part of getting older.
Many patients notice significant digestive relief, including reduced bloating and a more comfortable gut overall.
From improved blood pressure to better endurance, the heart health benefits of GLP-1 therapy are well documented and growing.
As your metabolism reactivates and inflammation drops, most patients notice a meaningful increase in their day-to-day energy levels.
While we can’t guarantee results, our experience is that most people are successful, and I mean VERY successful. If you have 20 lbs to lose, you might find that you have achieved your goal in just a few months. Of course, if you have more to lose, it might take a little longer, but our goal is not necessarily rapid weight loss but slow and steady weight loss, so your brain can adjust without feeling like it is in distress. We want your brain to say, “Hey, I can be 150 lbs, 160lbs, etc., and don’t need to slow my metabolism down because this is my new weight and it is healthy and fine.”
Whether you have 10 lbs or 50 lbs to lose, GLPs are likely a great choice to achieve your weight loss goals.
Semaglutide is one of the first GLP-1 weight loss injections. It works by slowing down how your body turns food into glucose and transports it to your bloodstream. Tirzepatide is the “Next-Gen” as it is both a GLP-1 agonist and a GIP agonist. This dual mechanism peptide can have fewer side effects and work better for some people.
Semaglutide is less than $175 per month and tirzepatide is around $250 per month, depending on dose. These prices are under market value, making it a great option for most people.
We source our peptides from FDA-approved 503A and 503B pharmacies. Prescriptions are patient-specific and often contain B12k glycine or carnitine to make them proprietary.
The short answer is: It depends. If you just have a little weight to lose, we can get you there relatively quickly. Once you are at your ideal weight, we will lower the dose or space out the injections to maintain your new body weight and to keep reminding your body to use fatty acids for fuel. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you might be on these for years, again, at the lowest effective dose.
Let’s talk! Maybe you were on semaglutide and would do better with tirzepatide. Maybe the dose was too high or sub-therapeutic.
We find that once we have reset your brain and metabolism, you can keep the weight off without a rapid rebound.
Sometimes. There are FDA-approved conditions for both semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro or Zepbound). However, even if you qualify, your insurance may have a policy to exclude coverage completely. We encourage you to call your insurance and verify coverage.
At Integrative Family Medicine of Bend, we’re always exploring cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments to help our patients achieve their health and
